I am so in love with my friends and family. Really, I just have the best people around me.

Last year I didn’t have the best birthday, for a lot of reasons. Adam’s stepgrandmother passed away, and her funeral fell right between my birthday party and my actual birthday. I had a wonderful time with my friends and family for my birthday events, but there was a cloud over it. There was also a cloud because I was turning 30 and kind of struggling to get used to that idea.

But this year I’m just having the best time. I’ve been excited about my birthday for weeks, and I can’t remember the last time I was this giddy. And everyone has been wonderful. This gorgeous cake that Adam brought me from Financier, the cards from my students, well wishes, thoughtful gifts. And to top it all off I had a snow day. We’re in the middle of a full-on blizzard here, it’s a snowy wonderland out there. That first photo is me making a snow angel. At least, it’s a wonderland until tomorrow morning when I have to get to work in the result of this storm.

Adam’s parents gave me Quilting for Peace, these Cole Haan shoes with Nike soles that I wanted, and a gorgeous collection of Jane Austen’s novels. Adam gave me a rice cooker and a stir fry pan, which are both going to be a huge help in my long-standing goal to start expanding my cooking repertoire. Now I don’t have to learn how to cook rice. And my mom gave me Martha Stewart’s Cooking School and this excellent Urban Decay palette inspired by Alice in Wonderland. Plus a Boden gift card from my friend Laura Ann. So much wonderful stuff! I don’t even know where to start playing.